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8 more Minn. cases of West Nile confirmed

The Minnesota Department of Health says officials have confirmed eight more cases of West Nile Virus in the state over the last week.

The mosquito-borne virus has infected 52 Minnesota residents and caused one death this summer, the highest tally in five years. Most of the cases are in southwest Minnesota, but a total of 29 counties around the state have confirmed cases of West Nile illness.

Hennepin, Chippewa and Yellow Medicine counties have each recorded four cases. Brown, Clay, Lyon, Murray and Stevens counties have had three each.

Nationwide, nearly 2,000 people have contracted the illness. The health department said the number of cases should begin to decline as cooler fall weather arrives.